Cold Start to Spring Keeps Garden Sales Down

TUNKHANNOCK — It may be spring, but there are still signs of winter in Wyoming County.

From the snow to the brown winter grass, many homeowners are hoping for a sign of spring.

“The ground is still too hard to do anything with. This time of year we should have been able to do something, but the frost is too deep,” Robert Blum of Mehoopany said.

Newswatch 16 stopped at Gay’s True Value Hardware near Tunkhannock. Workers say, with the prolonged cold, its been hard to stay stocked up on their winter supplies.

But when it comes to selling garden supplies and things for the spring – that’s a different story.

“It’s quite different. It’s still sitting on the shelves right now. It’s going to start moving here shortly as soon as we get a good break in the weather, but right now we’re behind in the sales unlike we normally would in the year,” Gay’s True Value Hardware owner, Dan Gay, said.

Pearl Giberson of Meshoppen stopped by the store to do some shopping. She admits she skipped the gardening aisles.

“Nothing right now because it’s too cold. But I am going to start getting flowers and planting them again,” Giberson said.

While people may just be thinking spring, spring is in the air at Kettle’s Greenhouse near Tunkhannock.

Workers say the cold weather has kept fuel costs on the higher side as they try to keep their plants warm.

“Usually by the first of April we’re putting the heartier annuals and perennials right outside, but it doesn’t look like we’ll be able to do that this year,” Dan Kettle of Kettle’s Greenhouse said.

It might be a little bit too cold outside to start planting in your garden. But, in a few weeks, workers say plants will be ready to go to give your garden a touch of spring.

“I wouldn’t advise anyone to plant right now. Even the heartier annuals like violas and pansies can freeze when we get down into the teens like this,” Kettle said.